All About Avocados

Why Avocados? Whether it is in your guacamole, salad or if you just feel like peeling one and digging in with a spoon, have at it! Avocados and avocado oils are your friends; they make you better, and here’s how:

1. So much potassium.

Bananas are good, but let’s be real, avocados are better. One avocado has three times as much potassium as one banana. Potassium is good for helping with muscle cramps and is also important for maintaining your brain, heart and nerve functions.

2. They have the good fats.

“Fat” is a scary word, but your body needs it. One serving of avocados has 3.5 grams of unsaturated fat, which is the fat we want. Unsaturated fat helps improve skin and hair quality, as well as reduce cravings for all the processed, sugary snacks we can’t help but want.

3. Fiber, Fiber, Fiber.

Forget buying fiber bars because one medium-sized avocado has 10 grams of fiber. Soluble fiber helps you feel full and insoluble fiber helps speed up your digestive system. Our bodies need both, and both are in avocados.

4. They are a healthier, tastier substitute.

Trade mayo, butter and cheese for avocados on your sandwiches and wraps. One tablespoon of butter has 100 calories and 30 milligrams of cholesterol, but a 1 –ounce serving of avocados has 50 calories and no cholesterol. Seems like an easy decision, right?

5. Avocado oil helps to detoxify.

Avocado oil is full of chlorophyll, which is a natural source of healthy magnesium (the same mineral found in Epsom salt). This natural substance is best known for removing metals, such as mercury and lead, from the liver, kidneys, brain and other organs. Add avocado oil dressing to your salad and get detoxifying.

6. It strengthens your skin.

Avocado oil not only cleans the inside of your body, but it cleans the outside. too. When you moisturize with avocado oil, you boost your skin’s ability to generate stronger cells. The potassium, vitamin E and lecithin found in avocado oils are the primary skin-feeding nutrients and are easily absorbed through the epidermis (the outer most layer of skin).

7. It makes your hair grow faster and fuller.

The same nutrients that are good for moisturizing and feeding skin are also great for nourishing your hair. After washing your hair, apply avocado oil alone, or mix it in with your usual regime to improve the texture of your hair and promote hair growth. No more spending money on countless bottles of Biotin.

8. It can reduce inflammation and itching.

Avocado oil is full of oleic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory. It can be applied directly to your skin to ease discomfort for any skin conditions — insect bites, sunburns and cracked heels, to name a few.

9. Reduces scarring and speeds up healing.

Once you have cleaned the affected area, treat damaged skin caused by cuts, scrapes, blisters or burns with a drop of avocado oil. Because of all the nutrients that help with growing healthier and stronger skin, the damaged area will heal faster and reduces the chance of scars.

10. Boosts your Immune System.

Forget flu season! Avocados contain the antioxidant Glutathione, which boosts the immune system overall. Enough said, right?

CREAMY AVOCADO AND SPINACH PASTA 

INGREDIENTS

• 10 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• ½ cup pecans
• ¼ cup basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ¾ to 1 cup pasta water
• Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

• Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.

• While pasta is cooking, add the rest of the ingredients to your blender, and blend until it turns into a smooth sauce. Start with ¾ cup of pasta water, and add more as needed to get the consistency you want.

• Toss the pasta with the sauce in a bowl, and serve immediately. This sauce is best served the day it is made because it uses avocados, which will turn a brownish color.